Letters: Congressman Lance's vote on TRAIN Act wasn't in New Jersey's best interest

Congressman Leonard Lance voted against New Jersey’s interest by supporting a bill that will affect our health and economy. Lance, who is a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, voted in favor of the TRAIN Act, (H.R. 2401), an outright attack on clean air.

This legislation would block health safeguards issued by the Environmental Protection Agency and prevent mercury standards from being adopted.

Lance represents the 7th District in Central Jersey, an area that was ranked number 17 on a list ranking the nation’s worst air quality, particularly for smog. Representing an area that is already burdened with poor air quality and pollution makes Lance’s decision even worse.

Thousands of Americans die every year from illnesses related to poor air quality. These numbers will increase if we continue on this path, costing thousands of lives and billions of dollars in health bills. Lance not only voted against our health, but our economy as well.

New Jersey has some of the worst air quality in the nation mainly because we get a third of our pollution from out of state dirty power plants. Instead of helping New Jersey’s businesses, this legislation would place an even bigger burden on the state’s businesses by creating more pollution for them to clean up.

Lance should be looking out for the interest of New Jersey first, instead of other states and their corporate polluters.

Lance voted against Americans’ well-being and the things we care most about — our health, our families’ health and air that’s safe to breathe. Clean air is essential not only for our health, but for a healthy economy. Clean air reduces health care costs and can help grow a clean energy sector because a healthy economy begins with healthy people.